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Social media is constantly changing, so top online nursing programs must reevaluate their strategies regularly and decide which platforms to maintain a presence on and how much interaction to engage in with their followers. The biggest change for nursing schools has been an increase in the number of schools using NursesLounge.com, a professional networking site just for nurses. More than 30% of the schools we researched now have a presence on Nurses Lounge.

This time around, we have improved our scoring formula and added Nurses Lounge and Instagram into the mix. Although adaptation of Instagram is still low among nursing schools, we see many schools adding this fun photo-sharing site to their social media presence, and we expect this trend to continue.

Our formula is weighted to put more emphasis on the social media platforms that are most popular with nursing schools. The highest possible score is 100, with 32 points for Facebook, 15 for Nurses Lounge, 14 for Twitter, 12 for YouTube, 12 for LinkedIn, 6 for Google, 4 for Pinterest, 4 for Flickr, and 1 for Instagram. Here are the updated results.

Feel free to post the badge on your website and social media accounts if you made the list.

#1) Chamberlain College of Nursing

Overall Score

86.7

Chamberlain College of Nursing in Downers Grove, IL is still our all-over winner with an established social media presence on every platform we evaluated except Flickr. Chamberlain offers nursing degrees at the associate, bachelor, and master levels.

#2) Johns Hopkins School of Nursing

Overall Score

82.0

Johns Hopkins offers a variety of nursing possibilities, from a bachelor’s degree to doctoral nursing programs and beyond to post-degree certification and continuing education. You can even get your master’s degree online.

#3) Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

Overall Score

80.1

Vanderbilt offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), a PhD in Nursing Science, and a 2-year postdoctoral program. You can also choose from eleven post-master’s certificates if you already have your MSN.

#4) Duke University School of Nursing

Overall Score

77.8

Duke University School of Nursing offers an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing that allows you to get your BSN in 16 months if you already have another degree. They also offer Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing degrees, as well as a postdoctoral fellowship.

#5) UAB School of Nursing

Overall Score

74.6

The UAB School of Nursing is ranked fifth worldwide for its clinical work in medicine, dentistry, nursing, optometry, health professions, and public health. A few of the programs offered at the school are a PhD in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Accelerated Master’s in Nursing Pathway.

#7) University of Minnesota School of Nursing

Overall Score

69.0

In 2013, the University of Minnesota School of Nursing opened an 11,000 square foot learning simulation and research center. The school was the first in the US to offer Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) programs in Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Health Innovation and Leadership, Midwifery, and Nursing Informatics.

#9) University of Washington School of Nursing

Overall Score

67.8

The University of Washington School of Nursing places a strong emphasis on research to address the most pressing challenges in health care. UW offers six degree programs with a variety of specialties as well as continuing education opportunities.

#11) Marian University Nursing Schools

Overall Score

65.4

Through the School of Nursing in Indianapolis and the Tennessee Nursing School in Nashville, Marian University offers an Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) that involves online courses combined with hands-on practice and hospital rotations to prepare you for your future nursing career.

Belmont offers both undergraduate and graduate nursing degrees and boasts some of the highest NCLEX-RN licensure pass rates in the nation. The school’s faculty is dedicated to helping each student succeed.

#13) Goldfarb School of Nursing

Overall Score

64.6

Goldfarb School of Nursing has just received an interesting distinction. The school was recently honored as the “Best School of Nursing for Men” for 2013 by the American Assembly for Men in Nursing (AAMN).

#14) The University of Arizona College of Nursing

Overall Score

63.9

Whether you’re headed toward a career in nursing, healthcare administration, public health policy, advanced practice nursing, nursing education, or nursing research, the University of Arizona College of Nursing has the right program to make it happen.

#16) Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University

Overall Score

63.3

The Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing was the first in the US to offer the acute care nurse practitioner program, the advanced practice flight nursing program, and the practice doctorate in nursing.

#18) Emory Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing

Overall Score

62.3

The Nell Hodgson Woodson School of Nursing attracts nursing students who want to learn the most innovation patient care techniques from a staff that is constantly working to discover new methods to advance the nursing profession.

#19) Duquesne University School of Nursing

Overall Score

61.9

Duquesne University offers a community-focused nursing education that incorporates high-tech simulation training. International opportunities are available for students who want to learn about global health issues through first-hand experience.

#20) ASU College of Nursing & Health Innovation

Overall Score

61.4

The ASU College of Nursing & Health Innovation offers Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice, and Nurse Educator programs. The school has two health clinics that provide services to the public and are managed by nurses.

#21) Yale School of Nursing

Overall Score

61.4

Master’s program specialties available at the Yale School of Nursing include nurse practitioner, nurse-midwifery, clinical nurse specialist, and nursing management. Yale offers Post Master’s Certificates in six different areas as well as a PhD in nursing.

#23) University of California San Francisco School of Nursing

Overall Score

59.8

The UCSF School of Nursing is dedicated to excellence: educational excellence, research excellence, and patient care excellence. For the past decade, the school has been one of the top two nursing schools receiving research funding from the NIH.

#24) University of Maryland School of Nursing

Overall Score

58.9

The University of Maryland School of Nursing is a leader in public service, health sciences research, and patient care. Its nursing programs are conducted in a research-intensive environment with a focus on providing a high-quality for all students.

#25) The University of Iowa College of Nursing

Overall Score

58.4

The University of Iowa College of Nursing has the #1 programs in the nation for gerontology and nursing service administration, as well as top 10 rankings for anesthesia, pediatric nurse practitioner, and the MS in Nursing.

#26) TCU Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Overall Score

57.2

Your nursing education at TCU Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences includes clinical experience in schools, community health agencies, and top medical hospitals. During your senior year, you’ll be able to choose a specialty, such as community health, pediatrics, maternity, or psychiatric care.

#27) University of Illinois at Chicago College of Nursing

Overall Score

56.6

The University of Illinois offers BSN, MS, GEP, DNP, and PhD programs in five locations: Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, Urbana, and the Quad Cities. Regardless of the degree or campus you choose, you’ll receive quality instruction from some of the best nursing educators in the country.

#28) Georgetown University School of Nursing & Health Studies

Overall Score

55.3

Georgetown’s School of Nursing & Health Studies provides a student-centered education in accordance with the Jesuit tradition. The school is divided into four departments: Health Systems Administration, Human Science, International Health, and the Department of Nursing.

#29) The Ohio State University College of Nursing

Overall Score

54.6

In its Master’s program, the Ohio State University College of Nursing offers five specialties: Nursing Science, Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Nurse Practitioner, and Nursing and Health System Management.

#30) University of South Carolina College of Nursing

Overall Score

54.3

At the University of South Carolina College of Nursing, you’ll get a top-notch education whether you’re learning in the classroom or in a traditional clinical setting. You’ll also get hands-on training in the world class simulation lab.

#31) Washington State University College of Nursing

Overall Score

53.9

Washington State University claims a history of excellence, from its beginnings as the first nursing consortium in the nation to its current course offerings, which have expanded to include master’s and doctorate degrees. The first-time passage rate for WSU students who take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) is one of the highest in the nation.

#32) University of Virginia School of Nursing

Overall Score

53.6

The University of Virginia School of Nursing offers small classes and hands-on experience to cultivate the next generation of compassionate caregivers, researchers, and practitioners. Its UVA Medical Center is one of the nation’s top hospitals.

#33) University of Texas at Arlington College of Nursing

Overall Score

53.1

The UT Arlington College of Nursing offers a full range of nursing degrees, from BSN to PhD. The school makes use of the latest technologies to improve students’ experience both in the classroom and in clinical settings.

#34) Baylor University Louise Herrington School of Nursing

Overall Score

53.0

Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing is a Christian college dedicated to preparing nurses for professional practice and service. The school emphasizes integration of faith with other areas of the student’s life.

#35) University of Michigan School of Nursing

Overall Score

53.0

The University of Michigan School of Nursing offers twelve master’s programs with two additional concentration options, traditional and accelerated BSN programs, post-master’s certification, and doctoral programs.

#36A) UNC School of Nursing

Overall Score

53.0

The UNC-Chapel Hill School of Nursing is one of the best in the country, with 95% of its students passing the NCLEX on the first try. The school is tied for 4th in the rankings for Best Graduate School of 2012 in the .

#37) University of Miami School of Nursing & Health Studies

Overall Score

52.9

The University of Miami School of Nursing & Health Studies also has a reputation of success when it comes to test-taking results. In 2010, every single one of their Certified Nurse Anesthesia, MS students passed their State Boards on the first try.

#39) Denver School of Nursing

Overall Score

52.4

At the Denver School of Nursing, classes are smaller than at most schools and students who start together stay together throughout the program. This encourages the formation of deeper friendships and greater participation in study groups.

#40) University of Kansas Medical Center School of Nursing

Overall Score

52.2

More than 8,000 students have graduated from the University of Kansas Medical Center School of Nursing since it opened in 1905. The school manages a safety net clinic, the Silver City Health Center, in cooperation with the University of Kansas School of Health Professions. The clinic is run by nurses and provides primary care for Kansas City residents who are uninsured or underinsured.

#41) Medical University of South Carolina College of Nursing

Overall Score

51.4

There is one type of nursing student that MUSC caters to: the student who wants to excel, not just in school but throughout his or her career. MUSC takes advantage of innovations in education and laboratory technologies to provide enhanced learning opportunities for its students.

#42) UW Milwaukee College of Nursing

Overall Score

49.7

UWM has the largest nursing program in Wisconsin and leads the nation in innovative research in nursing informatics, chronic pain management, interventions with elders, self-management science, and many other areas.

#43) Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing

Overall Score

49.1

The Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing is home to the only Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in West Texas. Classes are held online with three 3-4 day executive sessions held on campus three times each semester.

#44) Villanova University College of Nursing

Overall Score

48.5

Villanova offers a BSN program for new college students as well as second degree options for transfer students and those who have already completed a bachelor’s degree in another field. In addition, students who already have their bachelor’s degrees can pursue their master’s, post-master’s, DNP, or PhD.

#45) Northeastern University Bouvé College of Health Sciences

Overall Score

48.2

The Bouvé College of Health Sciences School of Nursing offers a direct entry program as well as an online RN-to-BSN program, an online Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) program, and an online Nursing Administration (MS) program.

#46) East Carolina University College of Nursing

Overall Score

46.1

East Carolina University College of Nursing offers programs at the undergraduate, master’s, and PhD levels. Students in the master’s program can specialize in Adult Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Anesthesia, Nursing Education, or Nursing Leadership.

#47) Florida State University College of Nursing

Overall Score

46.1

FSU’s online graduate program is ranked #10 in the nation. The program requires 35 semester hours of coursework, which is all completed online. Most of the students enrolled in the program work full-time and attend school online part-time.

#48) Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing

Overall Score

46.1

The Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing is a Catholic school owned by the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. It is affiliated with the OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, which is one of the largest employers in Peoria.

#49) Michigan State University College of Nursing

Overall Score

45.3

The Michigan State University College of Nursing is actively responding to calls for changes in the way nursing education is delivered. The school has invested in distance education and virtual technology to enhance the learning experiences of its students.

#50) Ohio University College of Health Sciences and Professions

Overall Score

44.3

Ohio University’s School of Nursing was the first to offer a 4-year nursing program in southeast Ohio. In addition to traditional classroom programs, the school offers online RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs.

About the Author

Beth Parker, Nursing Editorial /

Beth Parks is Nursing Editorial Specialist at NurseJournal.org. She has more than 10 years experience in research & editorial. From turning a simple idea into a editorial masterpiece, Bethanny offers her readers something to talk about, share and remember. She works directly with our nurse community to help craft her ideas.